Binding machine for gardening

ABSTRACT

A binding machine for gardening includes a main handle to draw out a tape, a clincher arm rotatably attached to the main handle, and a tape gripping device attached to the clincher arm to grip the tape. The tape gripping device includes a support portion, a gripping member, a gripping member urging unit, a lock member and a lock member urging unit. The support portion is provided along a drawing direction of the tape. The gripping member is provided to face the support portion. The gripping member urging unit urges the gripping member toward the support portion. The lock member is engaged with the gripping member to hold the gripping member against an urging force of the gripping member urging unit. The lock member urging unit urges the lock member in an engaging direction with the gripping member. The lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/622,206, filed Jun. 14, 2017, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-119281 filed on Jun. 15, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, and priority is claimed to each of the foregoing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a binding machine for gardening that is used for guiding/binding work in agricultural crop cultivation.

BACKGROUND

In the related art, a binding machine for gardening is used for guiding/binding work at the time of cultivation of agricultural crops. Specifically, the binding machine for gardening is used to bind plant vines and stems to poles or nets in cultivation of agricultural crops such as cucumbers, grapes, or tomatoes.

For example, this type of binding machine for gardening includes a main handle capable of drawing out a tape from a front end portion and a clincher arm rotatable with respect to the main handle. When an operation handle of the binding machine for gardening is lightly gripped, the clincher arm rotates in a closing direction with respect to the main handle, and a tape gripping device provided at a front end portion of the clincher arm grips the tape drawn out from the front end portion of the main handle. When the squeezing of the handle is released in this state, the clincher arm rotates in an opening direction with respect to the main handle, and the tape is drawn out. When the tape is drawn out and the tape is stretched between the clincher arm and the main handle, the agricultural crops and poles are pressed against the drawn-out tape, and the agricultural crops and the poles are inserted between the clincher arm and the main handle. When the handle is further gripped again in this state, the clincher arm rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle, and a tape loop is formed. When the handle is further gripped, both ends of the tape loop are bound by a staple, the ends of the tape loop are cut by a cutter, and thus the binding is completed.

In such a binding machine for gardening, a traction needle of a tape gripping device is necessary to stand by in a state of being released from a tape at the time of a standby in which a handle is not gripped. Accordingly, the tape gripping device includes a lock member that is engaged with the traction needle to control the movement of the traction needle in order to bring the traction needle into the standby state. The lock member is adapted to operate in conjunction with a squeezing operation of an operation handle.

For example, as disclosed in JP-A-2004-224412 (FIG. 2 and the like), a tape gripping device of a binding machine for gardening according to the related art is configured to control rocking of a traction needle of the tape gripping device in such a manner that three sheet metal members slide in a state of being overlapped and to realize an operation of gripping a tape.

SUMMARY

By the way, since the tape gripping device as described above holds the tape with the traction needle urged by an urging force of a spring, when the traction needle is in a standby state, it is necessary to squeeze the handle against the urging force of the spring, which has been one factor to increase an operation load of the handle in a binding operation.

In addition, since the lock member for maintaining the traction needle in the standby state is urged in a lock direction by the spring, when the lock is released or the released lock member is locked again, it is also necessary to squeeze the handle against the urging force of the spring that urges the lock member.

Since the binding machine for gardening is used in outdoor fields, soil or the like may enter thereinto. The tape gripping device according to the related art has a structure in which three sheet metal members slide in the state of being overlapped, and thus foreign materials such as soil enter between and around the sheet metal members, resulting in increasing sliding resistance. In the structure according to the related art, the spring load for urging these sheet metal members increases in order to operate normally the tape gripping device even when the sliding resistance increases in this way, and the sheet metal members operate under a higher spring load even when the sliding resistance increases. However, when the spring load increases, there are problems that the sliding resistance increases and a handle load increases in the binding operation due to the urging force of the spring to be applied.

Therefore, the invention is to provide a binding machine for gardening capable of reducing a load at the time of a handle operation, by reducing a load relating to an operation of a lock member of a tape gripping device.

The invention has been made to solve the problems, and is characterized by the following.

(1) A binding machine for gardening comprising:

a main handle that is configured to draw out a tape from a front end portion thereof;

a clincher arm that is rotatably attached to the main handle; and

a tape gripping device that is attached to a front end portion of the clincher arm and that is configured to grip an end portion of the tape drawn out from the front end portion of the main handle, wherein

the tape gripping device includes:

-   -   a support portion that is provided along a drawing direction of         the tape;     -   a gripping member that is provided so as to face the support         portion;     -   a gripping member urging unit that is configured to urge the         gripping member toward the support portion;     -   a lock member that is configured to be engaged with the gripping         member to hold the gripping member at a standby position against         an urging force of the gripping member urging unit; and     -   a lock member urging unit that is configured to urge the lock         member in an engaging direction with the gripping member, and

the lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm.

(2) The binding machine for gardening according to (1), wherein

the lock member is configured to hold the gripping member at a tape gripping position.

(3) The binding machine for gardening according to (1) or (2), wherein

the lock member is configured to be engaged with a peripheral surface of the gripping member.

(4) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein

the main handle is provided with a lock releasing portion to be engaged with the lock member, and

the lock releasing portion is configured to interact with the lock member in conjunction with rotation of the clincher arm with respect to the main handle.

(5) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (4), further comprising:

a tape guide through which the tape is guided so as to be drawable, at the front end portion of the main handle, wherein

when the clincher arm rotates in a closing direction with respect to the main handle, the tape guide pushes the lock member against an urging force of the lock member urging unit.

(6) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein

the gripping member and the lock member are not in contact with each other except for an engaging portion where the gripping member and the locking member.

(7). The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein

the lock member is configured to rotate when the lock member is engaged with the gripping member.

(8) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein

the lock member is configured to rotate without a plane contact with the gripping member when the lock member is engaged with the gripping member.

(9) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (6) to (8), wherein

the lock member is configured to rotate such that the gripping member are in contact with the lock member at the engaging portion only.

According to the above (1), the lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm. That is, since the lock member is rotatable, the guide mechanism can be simplified, and the resistance hardly increases even when foreign materials such as soil adhere to the surrounding thereof. Further, since the resistance is difficult to increase, the tape gripping device can be reliably operated even when the urging force of the gripping member urging unit or the lock member urging unit is made small. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the urging force of the urging unit while suppressing the increase in resistance due to the foreign materials, whereby the operation load of the handle can be reduced.

According to the above (2), the lock member holds the gripping member at the tape gripping position. According to this configuration, regardless of the magnitude of the urging force for urging the gripping member toward the support portion, the gripping member can be reliably held at the gripping position. Accordingly, the urging force of the gripping member urging unit can be reduced, and thus the operation load of the handle can be reduced.

According to the above (3), the lock member is engaged with the peripheral surface of the gripping member. According to this configuration, since the gripping member and the lock member are in contact with each other only at a minimum contact portion, the problem is hardly caused that soil or the like enters between the gripping member and the lock member and thus the resistance increases. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the urging force of the urging unit while suppressing the increase in resistance due to the foreign materials, whereby the operation load of the handle can be reduced.

According to the above (4), the main handle is provided with the lock releasing portion to be engaged with the lock member, and the lock releasing portion acts on the lock member in conjunction with the rotation of the clincher arm with respect to the main handle. According to this configuration, even when a new component is not added to release the lock, the lock can be released in conjunction with the operation when the clincher arm rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle.

According to the above (5), when the clincher arm rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle, the tape guide pushes the lock member against the urging force of the lock member urging unit. According to this configuration, even when a new component is not added to release the lock, the lock can be released in conjunction with the operation when the clincher arm rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle.

According to the above (6), the gripping member and the lock member are not in contact with each other except for the engaging portion. According to this configuration, since the gripping member and the lock member are in contact with each other only at a minimum contact portion, the problem can hardly be caused that soil or the like enters between the gripping member and the lock member and thus the resistance increases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a binding machine for gardening;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which a clincher arm is opened with respect to a main handle;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which the clincher arm is completely closed with respect to the main handle;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the binding machine for gardening from which a cover member of an operation handle is removed and illustrates a state in which the clincher arm is opened with respect to the main handle;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the binding machine for gardening from which the cover member of the operation handle is removed and illustrates a state in which the clincher arm is completely closed with respect to the main handle;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of a front end portion of the binding machine for gardening;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure in the vicinity of the front end portion of the binding machine for gardening;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a tape guide as viewed from the front, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the tape guide as viewed from the rear;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support portion;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a gripping member;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a perspective view and a side view of a lock member, respectively;

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state before a gripping operation is executed;

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state before the gripping operation is executed;

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining a relation between the tape guide and the lock member and the support portion and illustrates a state before the tape guide comes in contact with the lock member and the support portion;

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining the relation between the tape guide and the lock member and the support portion and illustrates a state in which the tape guide pushes up the lock member;

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the relation between the tape guide and the lock member and the support portion and illustrates a state in which the tape guide abuts on the support portion;

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which the gripping member grips a tape in accordance with the tape guide;

FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which the gripping member grips a tape in accordance with the support portion;

FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which a tape is gripped and drawn out by a tape gripping device;

FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which the tape guide is in contact with the gripping member;

FIG. 21 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which the tape guide moves along an inclined surface of the gripping member; and

FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the binding machine for gardening and illustrates a state in which a tape is cut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front means a direction (a right direction in FIG. 2) in which a binding machine for gardening 10 faces an object S to be bound at the time of use, and the rear means a direction (a left direction in FIG. 2) opposite to the front.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the binding machine for gardening 10 according to the embodiment is used for guiding/binding work in agricultural crop cultivation includes an elongated main handle 11 that is linearly formed, a clincher arm 30 that is rotatably attached to the main handle 11, and an operation handle 50 that is rotatably attached to the clincher arm 30. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the clincher arm 30 is constantly urged by a tension spring 25, and is in an open state with respect to the main handle 11 in normal times. When the operation handle 50 and the main handle 11 are gripped from this state, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the clincher arm 30 is configured to rotate in a closing direction with respect to the main handle 11. Then, when the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction up to a predetermined position with respect to the main handle 11, in order to draw out a tape 60 from a front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11, a gripping operation is executed to grip the tape 60 at a front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30 and a binding operation is executed to bundle the object S to be bound with the tape 60 and to cut the tape 60 when the clincher arm 30 further rotates in the closing direction from the predetermined position with respect to the main handle 11 and is thus completely closed (closed state). In the gripping operation, that is, the clincher arm 30 rotates with respect to the main handle 11 up to a predetermined position without squeezing the handle up to a completely closed position. Meanwhile, in the binding operation, the clincher arm 30 further rotates in the closing direction from the predetermined position with respect to the main handle 11 by performing a squeezing operation of the handle up to the completely closed position. In this way, the gripping operation and the binding operation can be switched by the end point position of the squeezing operation. As will be described in detail below, in the embodiment, movement of the clincher arm 30 is restricted so as not to further rotate in the closing direction from the predetermined position when the gripping operation is performed, whereas the restriction is canceled when the binding operation is performed. For this reason, even if a worker does not recognize the end point position of the squeezing operation, when the operation of squeezing the depth side is performed, the gripping operation and the binding operation are automatically performed in turns.

First, the handle is gripped, and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11, thereby binding the object S to be bound. Thus, the gripping operation is executed to grip the tape 60 at the front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30. Thereafter, when the squeezing of the handle is released and thus the clincher arm 30 rotates in the opening direction with respect to the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30 and the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11 are separated from each other in a state where the tape 60 is gripped, and the tape 60 is in a state of being stretched between the clincher arm 30 and the main handle 11. The objects S to be bound such as seedlings or branches are introduced from the outside of the tape 60 stretched in this state, the handle is gripped again, and thus the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 22, both ends of a tape loop for binding the objects S to be bound are bonded by a staple 61, and the tape 60 is cut (the binding operation is executed). In this manner, the gripping operation is executed in the first squeezing operation, and the binding operation is executed in the second squeezing operation. When the gripping operation and the binding operation are executed in turns, the objects S to be bound can be bound. In the embodiment, the staple 61 is used as a bonding unit for bonding the both ends of the tape loop, but the both ends of the tape loop may be bonded by adhesion or welding without being limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the main handle 11 is a bar-like member which is linearly formed, and is formed such that the tape 60 and the staple 61 can be formed along a longitudinal direction. A staple magazine 12, a pusher unit 13, a tape guide 16, a staple driver 18, and a tape magazine 20 are attached to the main handle 11.

The staple magazine 12 is a long member for accommodating the staple 61. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the staple magazine 12 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the main handle 11, and can accommodate the staple 61 therein. As the staple 61 accommodated in the staple magazine 12, a plurality of U-shaped staples 61 bonded with an adhesive are used. The staple 61 accommodated in the staple magazine 12 is pushed toward the front end portion by the pusher unit 13 which will be described below. At the front end portion of the staple magazine 12, a long hole is provided to introduce the staple driver 18 which will be described below. In addition, the staple magazine 12 is attached to the main handle 11 so as to be rockable around a shaft provided at a rear end side.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the pusher unit 13 is a member that can be inserted and attached to the staple magazine 12. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and the like, the pusher unit 13 urges the staple 61 accommodated in the staple magazine 12 toward the front. When the staple 61 is set in the staple magazine 12, the pusher unit 13 is drawn down to insert the staple 61 from the top of the staple magazine 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 and the like, the staple driver 18 is a plate fixed to the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11 so as to face the vicinity of the front end portion of the staple magazine 12. The staple driver 18 is formed to have substantially the same width as the staple 61 so that only one staple 61 can be ejected. When the clincher arm 30 rotates to the state of being completely closed with respect to the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the staple driver 18 enters into the staple magazine 12, thereby ejecting the leading staple 61 accommodated in the staple magazine 12. Specifically, when the clincher arm 30 moves in the closing direction, the clincher arm 30 pushes the staple magazine 12 to rock it toward the staple driver 18. As the staple magazine 12 rocks, the staple driver 18 enters into the staple magazine 12, thereby ejecting the staple 61. After penetrating through the tape 60, the ejected staple 61 is clinched by the clincher 33 to be described below, so that two legs thereof are refracted to embrace the tape 60 and thus bonded to an end 60 a of the overlapped tape 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the tape magazine 20 is provided continuously with a rear end of the main handle 11 to accommodate the tape 60. The tape magazine 20 is capable of accommodating the tape 60 wound in a reel shape, and has a lid which can be openable to take in and out the tape 60. The tape 60 accommodated in the tape magazine 20 is drawn out to the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11 along the main handle 11. In the tape 60 drawn out to the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the end 60 a thereof is held by the tape guide 16 which will be described below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tape guide 16 is disposed at the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11, and is attached so as to be rockable around a tape guide rocking shaft 19 provided in the main handle 11. The tape guide 16 has a guide path at a center thereof as illustrated in FIG. 13, the tape 60 being guided so as to be drawable through the guide path. The guide path of the tape guide 16 has such a shape as to cover four sides such as both sides, a front side, and a rear side of the tape 60, so that the inserted tape 60 is not detached. The tape 60 inserted through the guide path is drawn out from the front end portion and faces the clincher arm 30. The end 60 a of the tape 60 is gripped by a tape gripping device 35, which will be described below, of the clincher arm 30, and is drawn out by a required amount.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the tape guide 16 includes a rocking shaft hole 16 a, a slit 16 b, a back surface portion 16 c, an abutment portion 16 d, a tape holding portion 16 e, and a cutting blade fitting portion 16 f.

The rocking shaft hole 16 a is a round hole through which the tape guide rocking shaft 19 penetrates. The rocking shaft hole 16 a is provided at a lower part of the tape guide 16 (a side far from the clincher arm 30). The rocking shaft hole 16 a is pivotally supported by the tape guide rocking shaft 19, and thus an end portion of the tape guide 16 facing the clincher arm 30 is rockable forward. Although not specifically illustrated, the tape guide 16 is constantly urged rearward by an urging member.

The back surface portion 16 c is a plate-shaped portion that supports the tape 60 from the rear side. The tape holding portions 16 e protrude forward from both sides of the back surface portion 16 c. The tape holding portions 16 e are configured to hold the tape 60 in accordance with the back surface portion 16 c. In the embodiment, a pair of tape holding portions 16 e are provided at each of two upper and lower parts, and four tape holding portions 16 e are provided. Each of the tape holding portions 16 e is formed in a substantially L shape, and the pair of upper and lower tape holding portions 16 e are disposed such that the front end portions thereof are opposed to each other. Thus, the slit 16 b is formed between the opposing front end portions of the tape holding portions 16 e. The slit 16 b allows a gripping member 37, which will be described below, to enter into the guide path.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the abutment portion 16 d is formed at an upper end edge of the back surface portion 16 c, contacts with an inclined surface 37 d of the gripping member 37 which will be described below, and slides along the inclined surface 37 d. The abutment portion 16 d protrudes toward the front end portion in an R shape, and thus is formed so as not to contact with both side edges of the inclined surface 37 d of the gripping member 37. The contact with the edges of the inclined surface 37 d is prevented, and thus when the tape 60 is sandwiched and pulled by the abutment portion 16 d and the gripping member 37 as will be described below, it is prevented that a hole is generated in the tape 60 or the tape 60 is torn.

The cutting blade fitting portion 16 f is configured to fix the cutting blade 17 for cutting the tape 60 after the binding of the objects S to be bound. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and the like, the cutting blade 17 is attached to the cutting blade fitting portion 16 f so as to form an angle with respect to the guide path of the tape 60 behind the guide path of the tape 60. When the cutting blade 17 is fixed to the tape guide 16 in this way and thus the tape guide 16 rocks, the cutting blade 17 rocks in conjunction with the tape guide 16.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the cutting blade 17 is disposed such that a cutting edge 17 a is directed backward in normal times, but the cutting edge 17 a moves to be directed upward as illustrated in FIG. 22 when cutting the tape 60. As described above, the cutting blade 17 according to the embodiment is exposed so that the cutting edge 17 a faces the tape 60 when cutting the tape 60. In the embodiment, the tape 60 rocks in conjunction with the tape guide 16. However, for example, the tape guide 16 is formed to move in a straight direction, and the cutting blade 17 may move in the straight direction in conjunction with the tape guide 16. Further, a member in the vicinity of the cutting blade 17 such as the tape guide 16 or the staple magazine 12 may move instead of the movement of the cutting blade 17, and the cutting edge 17 a of the cutting blade 17 may be exposed so as to face the tape 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, both sides of the tape guide 16 and the cutting blade 17 are covered with a sidewall 11 b which is a part of the main handle 11, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the tape guide 16 and the cutting blade 17 are not exposed in a side view. In other words, the main handle 11 is provided with the sidewall 11 b which is disposed so as to overlap with the cutting edge 17 a of the cutting blade 17 in a side view. The sidewall 11 b is disposed so as to constantly overlap with the cutting edge 17 a of the cutting blade 17 in a side view regardless of the state of the cutting blade 17 (either before or after the cutting blade 17 has moved). Therefore, even when foreign materials are caught by the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11, the cutting blade 17 is not stuck by the foreign materials. A rear side of the sidewall 11 b is an inclined portion 11 c, so that even when the object S to be bound is sandwiched by the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11, the object S to be bound can be guided toward the rear side (the main handle 11 and an inner side of the clincher arm 30).

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a roller-like engaging portion 14 is protrudingly formed on both sides of the main handle 11, and a finger hooking portion 15 is protrudingly formed on a lower surface of the main handle 11. The roller-like engaging portion 14 is a projection for slidably guiding a link portion 52 of the operation handle 50 which will be described below. The finger hooking portion 15 is a projection for hooking a finger squeezing the handle when the main handle 11 and the operation handle 50 are gripped.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the clincher arm 30 is constituted by a pair of sheet metal members 30 b connected to each other in parallel. The clincher arm 30 includes an arm portion 32 that extends curvedly toward the front end portion 30 a so that a C-shaped opening can be formed between the clincher arm 30 and the main handle 11. The clincher arm 30 is rotatably attached to the main handle 11 by a rotating shaft 31 provided in the vicinity of the rear end.

The clincher 33, the tape gripping device 35, and a gripping device cover 41 are attached to the clincher arm 30.

The clincher 33 is fixed to the front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30 so as to face the front end portion of the staple driver 18 described above. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 22, when the staple 61 is ejected by the staple driver 18, the two legs of the ejected staple 61 are clinched by the clincher 33 and bent inward. When the clincher 33 bends the two legs of the staple 61 inward, so that the two legs bind the tape 60 and are thus bonded thereto.

The tape gripping device 35 is attached to the front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30 and is capable of gripping the end 60 a of the tape 60 drawn out from the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11. The tape gripping device 35 includes a support portion 36, a gripping member 37, a gripping member urging unit 38, a lock member 39, and a lock member urging unit 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 and the like, the support portion 36 is fixed to the clincher arm 30 along the drawing direction of the tape 60, and includes a plate-like receiving portion 36 a capable of supporting the rear surface of the tape 60. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a recessed portion 36 b is formed in the receiving portion 36 a. The recessed portion 36 b is a portion to be engaged with a contact portion 37 c of the gripping member 37 which will be described below, and has a groove narrower than the tape 60 and wider than the contact portion 37 c. In addition, movement restricting portions 36 c are protrudingly formed on both sides of the receiving portion 36 a. The movement restricting portion 36 c is provided to restrict the rotation of the clincher arm 30 by being brought into contact with tape guide 16.

The gripping member 37 is provided so as to face the support portion 36, and is provided movably toward the support portion 36 so as to grasp the tape 60. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the gripping member 37 includes a rotating shaft hole 37 a, a claw portion 37 b, a contact portion 37 c, an inclined surface 37 d, a V-shaped portion 37 e, a peripheral surface 37 f, a locked portion 37 g, and a rotation blocking portion 37 i.

The rotating shaft hole 37 a is a hole through which a gripping member rotating shaft 42 penetrates. When the gripping member rotating shaft 42 penetrates through the rotating shaft hole 37 a, the gripping member 37 is pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect to the clincher arm 30.

The claw portion 37 b is a protruding portion for grasping the tape 60 in accordance with the receiving portion 36 a of the support portion 36. The contact portion 37 c capable of entering into the above-described recessed portion 36 b is formed at a front end portion of the claw portion 37 b. Thus, when the gripping member 37 is operated, the tape 60 can be firmly gripped by the concave-convex members (recessed portion 36 b and contact portion 37 c) through which the support portion 36 and the gripping member 37 are engaged with each other. That is, when the tape 60 is gripped with the concave-convex members, an intermediate part of the tape 60 is in a state of being pushed into the groove of the recessed portion 36 b. In this state, a restoring force of the bent tape 60 is applied on the edge of the recessed portion 36 b, so that a frictional force becomes larger and thus the tape 60 is difficult to come off.

The surface of the claw portion 37 b on the main handle 11 side forms the inclined surface 37 d. The inclined surface 37 d is disposed to face the abutment portion 16 d of the tape guide 16, and is provided to guide the abutment portion 16 d of the tape guide 16 in contact therewith. Further, the V-shaped portion 37 e is provided on the side opposite to the front end portion of the inclined surface 37 d. The V-shaped portion 37 e is configured such that the tape guide 16 sliding along the inclined surface 37 d cannot further slide, and is formed to have an angle with respect to the inclined surface 37 d.

In addition, the locked portion 37 g and the rotation blocking portion 37 i are provided on the peripheral surface 37 f of the gripping member 37 on the opposite side of the main handle 11. The locked portion 37 g and the rotation blocking portion 37 i are formed using projections protrudingly formed on the peripheral surface 37 f of the gripping member 37, and are configured to be engaged with the lock member 39 to be described below. The lock member 39 moves along the peripheral surface 37 f of the gripping member 37, and can be engaged with the locked portion 37 g or the rotation blocking portion 37 i depending on circumstances.

The gripping member urging unit 38 is configured to urge the gripping member 37 toward the support portion 36. The gripping member urging unit 38 according to the embodiment is a torsion coil spring as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like. When the gripping member urging unit 38 urges the gripping member 37 and thus the lock operation of the lock member 39 to be described below is released, the gripping member 37 operates, and the tape 60 can be gripped between the support portion 36 and the gripping member 37 from both sides thereof.

The lock member 39 is configured to hold the gripping member 37 at a standby position against an urging force of the gripping member urging unit 38 by being engaged with the gripping member 37. The lock member 39 includes a rotating shaft hole 39 a, a locking portion 39 b, and a pressed portion 39 c as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

The rotating shaft hole 39 a is a hole through which the lock member rotating shaft 43 penetrates. The lock member rotating shaft 43 penetrates through the rotating shaft hole 39 a, so that the lock member 39 is pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect to the clincher arm 30.

The locking portion 39 b is a portion for restricting movement of the gripping member 37, and is protrudingly formed to be engageable with the gripping member 37. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and the like, the locking portion 39 b is disposed to face the peripheral surface 37 f of the gripping member 37, and is engageable with the locked portion 37 g and the rotation blocking portion 37 i formed on the peripheral surface 37 f. Specifically, the locking portion 39 b is engaged with the locked portion 37 g, so that the tape gripping device 35 can take a standby state of being opened without gripping the tape 60 as illustrated in FIG. 12. Then, when the lock member 39 rotates and thus the locking portion 39 b is disengaged from the locked portion 37 g, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the tape gripping device 35 can take a gripping state of being closed with the gripping of the tape 60. In the gripping state, the locking portion 39 b faces the rotation blocking portion 37 i so as to be engageable therewith, and thus the movement of the gripping member 37 is blocked. The rotation blocking portion 37 i faces the locking portion 39 b, so that the tape gripping device 35 maintains the gripping state until the lock member 39 rotates again.

The pressed portion 39 c is a portion that is pushed up when the lock member 39 rocks, and is arranged so as to face the front end portion of the tape guide 16 as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like. With this arrangement, the tape guide 16 pushes the lock member 39 against the urging force of the lock member urging unit 40 to be described below when the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11.

The lock member urging unit 40 is configured to urge the lock member 39 in an engaging direction with the gripping member 37. The lock member urging unit 40 according to the embodiment is a compression spring as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like. The lock member urging unit 40 urges the lock member 39, so that the locking portion 39 b of the lock member 39 is constantly urged in an engaging direction with the locked portion 37 g or the rotation blocking portion 37 i.

The gripping device cover 41 is a cover that covers the tape gripping device 35 described above, and is fixed between two sheet metal members 30 b of the clincher arm 30 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The gripping device cover 41 according to the embodiment is constituted by split pieces that can be split in left and right directions, and accommodates the tape gripping device 35 therein. The gripping device cover 41 has an opening at a lower side, and the receiving portion 36 a and the claw portion 37 b of the tape gripping device 35 are disposed at the back of the opening. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the gripping device cover 41 includes a forward protruding portion 41 a that covers the front side of the tape gripping device 35. Since the forward protruding portion 41 a protrudes forward from the front end portion of the sheet metal member 30 b, when the clincher arm 30 is inserted between crops, only the forward protruding portion 41 a formed in a curved shape comes in contact with the crops, but the tape gripping device 35 does not come in contact with the crops.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the operation handle 50 includes a base member 51 fixed to the main body of the binding machine for gardening 10 and a cover member 55 detachable from the base member 51.

The base member 51 is a metal component acting directly on the main handle 11 and the clincher arm 30. The base member 51 is attached to the clincher arm 30 so as to be rotatable about a rotation fulcrum 51 a as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Then, the base member 51 includes the link portion 52 engaged with the main handle 11 at one side thereof as viewed from the rotation fulcrum 51 a and a handle support portion 53 at the other side thereof as viewed from the rotation fulcrum 51 a. The handle support portion 53 is attached with the cover member 55, thereby functioning as a lever operation portion 55 c.

The link portion 52 is engaged with the main handle 11 and serves as a point of application of a lever. A hook 52 c is formed at the front end portion of the link portion 52, and the hook 52 c is engaged with the roller-like engaging portion 14 of the main handle 11, whereby the clincher arm 30 maintains a state of being opened at a predetermined angle with respect to the main handle 11 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

From this state, when the operation handle 50 and the main handle 11 are gripped, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the hook 52 c is disengaged from the roller-like engaging portion 14, and the roller-like engaging portion 14 slides on a sliding surface 52 a formed on a front surface of the link portion 52. In this way, as the sliding surface 52 a slides along the roller-like engaging portion 14, the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11. An inclination of the sliding surface 52 a used for the engagement of the roller-like engaging portion 14 changes stepwise in order to reduce an operation load when the staple 61 is ejected. That is, the inclination of the sliding surface 52 a becomes larger at the time of the binding operation rather than at the time of the gripping operation, so that a larger force can be obtained at the time of the binding operation even with the same operation load. Thus, the binding operation requiring a large force can be also performed with a light operation load. In this way, since the inclination of the sliding surface 52 a changes, a projection 52 b is formed in a place where the inclination of the sliding surface 52 a changes.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and the like, the cover member 55 covers the base member 51 so as to prevent it from being exposed. All the contact portions or the operation portions with/of the outside of the operation handle 50 are covered with the cover member 55. The cover member 55 includes a hook cover 55 a and a lever operation portion 55 c.

The hook cover 55 a covers the link portion 52 and a crossing portion X (see FIGS. 4 and 5) between the main handle 11 and the clincher arm 30. On the side surface of the hook cover 55 a, a curved projection 55 b is provided along the finger squeezing the lever operation portion 55 c and the main handle 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like. When the curved projection 55 b is provided, the operation handle 50 is easily gripped and can be held with a light grip even when the machine is held upward.

The lever operation portion 55 c covers the handle support portion 53, and is gripped by an operator when the operation handle 50 is operated. When the lever operation portion 55 c is gripped in a direction approaching the main handle 11, the base member 51 rotates about the rotation fulcrum 51 a, and the link portion 52 acts on the main handle 11, whereby the main handle 11 and the clincher arm 30 rotate in the closing direction with respect to each other.

A method of using the binding machine for gardening 10 will be described below. When the binding work is performed using the binding machine for gardening 10, first, the lock member 39 and the gripping member 37 are engaged with each other as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, thereby setting the gripping member 37 to be in the standby state.

In this state, when the handle is gripped and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11, the tape holding portion 16 e of the tape guide 16 comes in contact with the pressed portion 39 c of the lock member 39 as illustrated in FIG. 14.

When the clincher arm 30 further rotates, the lock member 39 is pushed up to rotate as illustrated in FIG. 15. As the lock member 39 rotates, the locking portion 39 b of the lock member 39 is disengaged from the locked portion 37 g of the gripping member 37 and the gripping member 37 rotates. Thus, the claw portion 37 b of the gripping member 37 is pressed against the back surface portion 16 c of the tape guide 16, and the end 60 a of the tape 60 drawn out from the tape guide 16 is gripped in the guide path of the tape guide 16.

At this time, when the clincher arm 30 further rotates, the tape holding portion 16 e of the tape guide 16 comes in contact with the movement restricting portion 36 c of the support portion 36 as illustrated in FIG. 16. In this way, the tape guide 16 functions as a movement restricting unit for restricting the rotation of the clincher arm 30 in the embodiment. Thus, the rotation of the clincher arm 30 is restricted, and thus the clincher arm 30 can hardly rotate up to a completely closed state (a closed state in which the binding operation is executed). Whether the tape guide 16 restricts the rotation of the clincher arm 30 is automatically switched according to the state of the tape gripping device 35. That is, when the tape gripping device 35 is in the standby state, the rotation of the clincher arm 30 is restricted as described above, but when the tape gripping device 35 is in the gripping state, the tape guide 16 acts on the tape gripping device 35 (which will be described below in detail), and thus the clincher arm 30 moves up to a position where the rotation thereof is not restricted (see FIG. 21).

When the first squeezing operation is performed in this way, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the gripping member 37 enters into the guide path of the tape guide 16 and grips the tape 60 in the guide path in accordance with the back surface portion 16 c of the tape guide 16. In this state, when the squeezing of the handle is released and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the opening direction with respect to the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the gripping member 37 slides and passes in the guide path in a state of gripping the tape 60 and grips the tape 60 in accordance with the support portion 36 after passing through the guide path.

Further, when the clincher arm 30 rotates in the opening direction with respect to the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30 and the front end portion 11 a of the main handle 11 are separated from each other in a state of gripping the tape 60, and the tape 60 is in a state of being stretched between the clincher arm 30 and the main handle 11.

In this state, when the objects S to be bound such as seedlings or branches are introduced from the outside of the stretched tape 60 and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction, as illustrated in FIG. 20, a tape loop is formed to bind the objects S to be bound.

From the state illustrated in FIG. 20, when the handle is further gripped and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11, the abutment portion 16 d of the tape guide 16 abuts on the inclined surface 37 d of the gripping member 37, and the abutment portion 16 d is guided to the inclined surface 37 d of the gripping member 37 and moves forward. As the tape magazine 20 moves forward as described above, the tape guide 16 is retracted to a position where the tape holding portion 16 e does not come in contact with the movement restricting portion 36 c of the support portion 36. When the tape guide 16 is retracted, the restriction of the rotation of the clincher arm 30 due to the tape guide 16 is released, and the clincher arm 30 is rotatable up to a completely closed state (a closed state where the binding operation is executed). In a state where the tape magazine 20 starts to move, the locking portion 39 b of the lock member 39 faces the rotation blocking portion 37 i of the gripping member 37, and the movement of the gripping member 37 is restricted.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the tape magazine 20 rocks forward until the abutment portion 16 d is engaged with the V-shaped portion 37 e ahead of the inclined surface 37 d. When the abutment portion 16 d is engaged with the V-shaped portion 37 e in this way, the tape guide 16 and the gripping member 37 hold the tape 60 in accordance with each other. Immediately before the abutment portion 16 d is engaged with the V-shaped portion 37 e, the tape holding portion 16 e of the tape magazine 20 pushes up the pressed portion 39 c of the lock member 39 to rock the lock member 39. Thus, the movement restriction of the gripping member 37 is released.

From the state illustrated in FIG. 21, when the handle is further gripped and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the tape magazine 20 and the gripping member 37 collapse forward together. At this time, since the tape magazine 20 moves while holding the tape 60, tension is applied to the tape 60. As the gripping member 37 moves together with the tape magazine 20, the tape 60 is detached from the tape gripping device 35. However, since the detached tape 60 is pressed from below by the tensioned tape 60, it is not disengaged from the front end portion 30 a of the clincher arm 30. Then, as the tape magazine 20 rocks, the cutting blade 17 fixed to the tape magazine 20 rocks in a direction in which the cutting blade 17 approaches the tape 60, and the tensioned tape 60 is cut. At the same time, the staple 61 is ejected behind the cutting blade 17 by the staple driver 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, in the course of rotating the clincher arm 30 in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11, the tape holding portion 16 e of the tape magazine 20 is disengaged from the pressed portion 39 c of the lock member 39. For this reason, the force pushing up the lock member 39 disappears, so that the lock member 39 moves by the urging force of the lock member urging unit 40, and becomes engageable with the gripping member 37. In addition, the gripping member 37 moves together with the tape magazine 20, and thus moves to the front side compared to the standby state.

Finally, when the squeezing of the handle is released and the clincher arm 30 rotates in the opening direction with respect to the main handle 11, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the gripping member 37 is engaged with the lock member 39 and the tape gripping device 35 is in a standby state. In this way, the binding machine for gardening 10 returns to the initial state, and the first binding work is completed.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the lock member 39 is rotatably attached to the clincher arm 30. The lock member 39 is configured to rotate when the lock member 39 is engaged with the gripping member 37. The lock member 39 may be configured to rotate without a plane contact with the gripping member 37 when the lock member 39 is engaged with the gripping member 37. That is, since the gripping member 37 and the lock member 39 are rotatable, the guide mechanism can be simplified, and the resistance hardly increases even when foreign materials such as soil adhere to the surrounding thereof. Further, since the resistance is difficult to increase, the tape gripping device 35 can be reliably operated even when the urging force of the gripping member urging unit 38 or the lock member urging unit 40 is made small. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the urging force of the urging unit while suppressing the increase in resistance due to the foreign materials, whereby the operation load of the handle can be reduced.

In addition, the lock member 39 holds the gripping member 37 at the tape gripping position. According to this configuration, regardless of the magnitude of the urging force for urging the gripping member 37 toward the support portion 36, the gripping member 37 can be reliably held at the gripping position. Accordingly, the urging force of the gripping member urging unit 38 can be reduced, and thus the operation load of the handle can be reduced.

Further, the lock member 39 is engaged with the peripheral surface 37 f of the gripping member 37. The lock member 39 is configured to rotate such that the gripping member 37 are in contact with the lock member 39 at the engaging potion only. According to this configuration, since the gripping member 37 and the lock member 39 are in contact with each other only at a minimum contact portion, the problem is hardly caused that soil or the like enters between the gripping member 37 and the lock member 39 and thus the resistance increases. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the urging force of the urging unit while suppressing the increase in resistance due to the foreign materials, whereby the operation load of the handle can be reduced.

Further, when the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11, the tape guide 16 pushes the lock member 39 against the urging force of the lock member urging unit 40. According to this configuration, even when a new component is not added to release the lock, the lock can be released in conjunction with the operation when the clincher arm 30 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the main handle 11. In addition, the lock can be prevented from being released in the middle of the operation by the releasing of the lock with the tape guide 16, and the lock can be released at an appropriate timing at which the closing operation is performed.

In the embodiment described above, the tape 60 is sandwiched and gripped by the tape gripping device 35, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, even in the mechanism used in the related art in which the claw is thrust into the tape 60 to hold the tape 60, the same effect as this embodiment can be obtained.

In the embodiment described above, the tape guide 16 rocks and thus can be retracted to a position where the lock member 39 is not pushed, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the tape guide 16 may linearly move back and forth.

(1) A binding machine for gardening comprising:

a main handle that is configured to draw out a tape from a front end portion thereof;

a clincher arm that is rotatably attached to the main handle; and

a tape gripping device that is attached to a front end portion of the clincher arm and that is configured to grip an end portion of the tape drawn out from the front end portion of the main handle, wherein

the tape gripping device includes:

-   -   a support portion that is provided along a drawing direction of         the tape;     -   a gripping member that is provided so as to face the support         portion;     -   a gripping member urging unit that is configured to urge the         gripping member toward the support portion;     -   a lock member that is configured to be engaged with the gripping         member to hold the gripping member at a standby position against         an urging force of the gripping member urging unit; and     -   a lock member urging unit that is configured to urge the lock         member in an engaging direction with the gripping member, and

the lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm.

(2) The binding machine for gardening according to (1), wherein

the lock member is configured to hold the gripping member at a tape gripping position.

(3) The binding machine for gardening according to (1) or (2), wherein

the lock member is configured to be engaged with a peripheral surface of the gripping member.

(4) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein

the main handle is provided with a lock releasing portion to be engaged with the lock member, and

the lock releasing portion is configured to interact with the lock member in conjunction with rotation of the clincher arm with respect to the main handle.

(5) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (4), further comprising:

a tape guide through which the tape is guided so as to be drawable, at the front end portion of the main handle, wherein

when the clincher arm rotates in a closing direction with respect to the main handle, the tape guide pushes the lock member against an urging force of the lock member urging unit.

(6) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein

the gripping member and the lock member are not in contact with each other except for an engaging portion where the gripping member and the locking member.

(7). The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein

the lock member is configured to rotate when the lock member is engaged with the gripping member.

(8) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein

the lock member is configured to rotate without a plane contact with the gripping member when the lock member is engaged with the gripping member.

(9) The binding machine for gardening according to any one of (6) to (8), wherein

the lock member is configured to rotate such that the gripping member are in contact with the lock member at the engaging portion only. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A binding machine for gardening comprising: a main handle that is configured to draw out a tape from a front end portion thereof; a clincher arm that is rotatably attached to the main handle; and a tape gripping device that is attached to a front end portion of the clincher arm and that is configured to grip an end portion of the tape drawn out from the front end portion of the main handle, wherein the tape gripping device includes: a support portion that is provided along a drawing direction of the tape; a gripping member that is provided so as to face the support portion; a gripping member urging unit that is configured to urge the gripping member toward the support portion; a lock member that is configured to be engaged with the gripping member to hold the gripping member at a tape gripping position; and a lock member urging unit that is configured to urge the lock member in an engaging direction with the gripping member, and the lock member is rotatably attached to the clincher arm.
 2. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is configured to hold the gripping member at a standby position against an urging force of the gripping member urging unit.
 3. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is configured to be engaged with a peripheral surface of the gripping member.
 4. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, wherein the main handle is provided with a lock releasing portion to be engaged with the lock member, and the lock releasing portion is configured to interact with the lock member in conjunction with rotation of the clincher arm with respect to the main handle.
 5. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, further comprising: a tape guide through which the tape is guided so as to be drawable, at the front end portion of the main handle, wherein when the clincher arm rotates in a closing direction with respect to the main handle, the tape guide pushes the lock member against an urging force of the lock member urging unit.
 6. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member and the lock member are in contact with each other at an engaging portion where a locked portion of the gripping member and a locking portion of the lock member engage with each other.
 7. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is configured to rotate when the lock member is engaged with the gripping member.
 8. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is configured to rotate without a plane contact with the gripping member when the lock member is engaged with the gripping member.
 9. The binding machine for gardening according to claim 6, wherein the lock member is configured to rotate such that the gripping member is in contact with the lock member at the engaging portion only. 